I have a tendency to read novels in topical spates, say Mormon polygamy, or long-distance swimming (there are more of these than you think). Developed long before algorithms began pushing similar titles my way, this semi-unconscious habit of circling a topic serves me well. While others turn to non-fiction to gain comprehension of a subject, I rely on fictional narratives, told from a variety of perspectives, cultures, or time periods, to fuel my understanding and empathy. T

Making dances is gratifying, but sharing those dances with others is next level fun. This is why choreographer and performer Lauren Settembrino, a relative newcomer to the Bay Area dance scene, decided to organize some fellow dancemakers and produce GREENLIT Choreography Showcase at Zaccho Dance Theatre May 29 & 30. Beyond creating more performance opportunities and building community among the participants, Settembrino’s goals for the evening include honoring and embracing

It’s official: I am a Jocelyn Reyes fangirl. Judging from the enthusiastic reception of to her latest REYES Dance piece String Quartet No.ATE (ATE), I am not alone. Time and again, Reyes crafts contemporary dance works which are choreographically interesting and cogent, without being simplistic. Drawing on her own life experiences, she addresses societal problems with unflinching honesty, while using humor to soften the edges. Spanning generational and cultural divides, this

As April rolls into May, Oakland Ballet Company (OCB) has touched down in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown for the fifth season of their groundbreaking Dancing Moon’s Festival. I first experienced this unique and rare showcase of Asian-American Pacific Islander artists in the world of ballet, in 2023 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, where the work was thrillingly presented in the intimate setting of a community room, with audience chairs arrayed around a dance floo